Body shop f&^%#& my truck up bigtime!!!

[dsignguy_35]

Do NOT take a Tacoma (or any car for that matter) to Baker autobody in pasadena. I've used them before, and they allways USED to do good work, but I guess things change.
It all started when my neighbors friend backed into my 07 Tacoma. he crushed the drivers side bed panel right behind the cab. It was bad enough that the panel needed to be replaced. I told the body shop I wanted them to use oNLY TOYOTA PARTS/PANEL..to which they agreed. The insurance co. was good to me, but when I went to pick the truck up, the body shop was complaining about the insurance not wanting to pay the suppliments needed to do the job right...BS!!! so I go start looking over their work. I dont have a camera so I'll do my best to describe what they tried to pass off on me:

Fisrt I noticed the chipguard sticker at the bottom....completely filled with air pockets...I pointed it out, and the guy said "they'll go away in a few days"...more BS!
Next, I notice a scratch in the gas door, which leads my eye to the big chip (about half the size of a pencil eraser and all the way to the primer) on the on the edge of the body panel below the gas door. When I pointed that out, he actually started to say "that must have happened somewhere else"....as he was saying "else" I interjected with " YOU JUST PAINTED IT!!!!" to which all he could say was "we'll fix it, just bring it bacck when you can". your damn right you'll fix it!
So now, I sit in my truck, and look at the panes in the mirror...first thing I see it its all wavy abouve the gas door(he says its from when they stamped it, and it probably is, but its obvious it is NOT a TOYOTA part). I get out and start to inspect that closer and I notice the paint looks "hazy" (it was in the shade before and I've now moved it into the sun) and I can now see overspay all over, and a couple of bubbles in the clearcoat. I go and drag the guy out of the office...AGAIN and point this all out...at thid point all he can do is studder and try to come up with more BS excuses. But its my second day at a new job and I'm already an hour late, so he promises to make everything right, and I'm on my way.
That was last tuesday. today I go to fill my truck up and noticce...THEY BROKE OFF THE HEADS OF THE SCREWS HOLDING THE GAS DOOR ON !!! the I see that the whole inner panel to the gas cap area had just been glued in place(after painting), and is now loose.

Needless to say, I WILL BE THERE WAITING WHEN HE GETS TO WORK TOMORROW!!!! I'M LIVID RIGHT NOW!!!!!


My only question is what do I do? this place is NOT going to touch my truck again, PERIOD!!! here is what I'm thinking, tell them they can:
A. refund the entire amount paid plus rental car, so I can take the truck and have it fixed properly.
B. Pay the body shop I take it too to have it fixed properly, or
C. settl it in front of a judge.

What do you huys suggest? I'll get pics when I can.

Shawn.

[eccracer104]

If I were you I would have just about STRANGLED that guy! Wow. How can he live with himself when he knows his shop is being ran so poorly. Honestly I am not sure what to do. My dad managed for a Ferrari dealer for 25 years so tomorrow when I talk to him I will see what he recommends to do. But wow that is terrible! I am really sorry! That sucks big time. But the advice I have is take pictures IMMEDIATELY!!! If you do need to do anything in court, you will need pictures for evidence and the sooner you take them the better. Get pictures ASAP even if they are from a cheesy disposable camera you need to be able to have the proof that the problems came from them and not from anything outside their shop. GOODLUCK!

[08TRDOFFROAD]

I would take it in to the shop that repaired it. Speak only with a manager. Express how dissatisfied you are and demand your/the insurance companies money back and like you said they pay for a rental due to the added incovenience their shitty repair caused you, when they insist they can fix it, decline and tell them you prefer to take it to a competent shop and they are not touching the vehicle again. And then get in touch with your insurance and let them know how dissatisfied you are with repairs, so hopefully they will quit giving the shop their business too. And like others have said. TAKE ALOT OF PICTURES! Document everything, so that if it goes to small claims you will have everything you need to win. Good Luck.

[johnecon2001]

Have your insurance company get involved. They probably chose this shop, no? They'll probably want to know that one of the shops on there list isn't such a great one.

[08impulseredtacoma]

i'd take that mofo to court!!